Cat found inside sofa at West Lothian waste depot reunited with family following Scottish SPCA appeal

A cat who was discovered inside a sofa at a council waste depot in West Lothian has been reunited with his family.

Workers at Whitehall Industrial Estate, Bathgate, discovered the black and white feline – who is now known to be named Gio – at around 4.30pm on Monday November 13 when he fell out of an old couch that was due to be discarded.

Scottish SPCA officers took in the pet cat and launched an appeal to find his owners.

Luckily his owners saw the appeal on social media as he was not microchipped.

Gio’s owner Nikita said: “It wasn’t unusual for him to be out for a while, but when he didn’t come home overnight she started to worry that something had happened to him.

“We think that Gio jumped inside a neighbour’s van for warmth, as it was filled with pillows.

“Gio is now back home where he belongs. He’s a bit shaken up from his travels and doesn’t seem to want to venture further than the garden, but is getting lots of cuddles in the meantime until he is back to his usual confident self.”

The Scottish SPCA “strongly recommends” microchipping their pets, although it is not a legal requirement for cats.

The charity said: “Microchipping your pets not only offers a range of benefits to their safety and wellbeing but it also gives you peace of mind should they ever get lost or stolen.

“Although it’s not a legal requirement to microchip cats, The Society strongly recommends that cat owners microchip their pets.

“It is essential to register your pet’s microchip and keep your contact information up-to-date with the company, for instance, when you move house or change phone number. There is usually a small fee for this.

“If anyone is concerned about an animal, they should call our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”